Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department will amend TITLE 388 WAC to implement all mandatory provisions of the nutrition title of the 2013 farm bill.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.903, house and senate farm bills, Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Changes proposed under this filing will be to implement mandatory provisions of the SNAP program under H.R. 1947, the FARRM Act of 2013 or S. 954 - Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 as enacted.

     Changes may also impact eligibility and benefits for the state-funded food assistance program for legal immigrants (FAP). Under RCW 74.08A.120, rules for the state food assistance program shall follow exactly the rules of the federal food stamp program except for the provisions pertaining to immigrant status.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: DSHS incorporates regulations from federal agencies, exercises state options, and implements approved waivers and demonstration projects by adopting administrative rules for food assistance administered as the Washington Basic Food program, the Washington combined application program (WASHCAP), and transitional food assistance.

     Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Holly St. John, SNAP Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4895, fax (360) 725-4904, e-mail holly.st.john@dshs.wa.gov.

May 30, 2013

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator